Ryo Miyaichi, 17, is on the verge of signing a long-term contract with Arsenal

The 17-year-old striker is to be offered a long-term deal at the Emirates Stadium after impressing on trial – as well as turning in some star performances for his country’s Under-19s team recently.

Gunners manager Arsene Wenger is thought to have sent officials out to Japan to finalise the details of a deal with Miyaichi, which would be confirmed in January.

The teenager, who was also said to be on the radars of European giants AC Milan and Ajax, currently attends Chukyodai Chuyko High School.

But he would be eligible to move to England to continue his footballing education when he turns 18 in December.

Miyaichi, who played for Japan’s Under-17s at the World Cup in Nigeria in 2009, is currently out injured with a broken leg but is expected to return to fitness before signing for the Gunners at the turn of the year.